And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. Including his posterity, see Genesis 46:23 , the posterity of the other three sons of Zerah are not mentioned, either because the writer could not find the genealogy of them, as Kimchi; or rather, as he thinks, he cuts short the genealogy of Zerah, because the kingdom did not proceed from him, and returns to the genealogy of Hezron, from whence it did, or perhaps they had no children. read more
2. THE LINE OF JUDAH , TO HIS THREE GREAT - GRANDSONS . The line of Judah is, with a well-known object, the first to be taken up, although Judah stands fourth of Israel's sons. Judah has five sons: three, Er, Onan, Shelah , by a Canaanitess, the daughter of Shad ; and two, Pharez and Zerah , by Tamar , his own daughter-in-law, under the circumstances described ( Genesis 38:6-30 ). There all these names are found in exact accord in the Authorized Version, in the... read more
The line through Ethan , another of the seven grandsons, seems to stop with Azariah , a name found nowhere else. read more
Descendants of Judah and Simeon (2:1-4:43)Having listed the children of Jacob (Israel) starting with the eldest son Reuben, the writer immediately turns his attention to the tribe of Judah, the tribe that produced the dynasty of David (2:1-17). He traces the line of David first, then goes back to deal with a number of other important people in Judah and lists their descendants (18-55). On completing this, he returns to list the family of David (3:1-9), the descendants of David who reigned after... read more
Ethan. Not the same person as "Ethan the Ezrahite" (1 Kings 4:31 ), who was probably a Levite (see 1 Chronicles 6:27-29 ; 1 Chronicles 15:17-19 ), and not of Judah, as the Heman and Ethan here. read more
Genealogies (continued)The genealogies in this chapter comprise the descendants of Isaac through Israel (Jacob), and the descendants of Judah.3. The sons of Judah] Some of the names that follow are given differently in the other books where they occur. 9. Chelubai] the Caleb of 1 Chronicles 2:18, 1 Chronicles 2:42. 15. David the seventh] In 1 Samuel 17:12 it is implied that Jesse had eight sons.18. And of Jerioth] The passage is probably corrupt, and Jerioth may be the name of Azubah’s father.... read more
(6-8) The sons of Zerah.—From this point our narrative ceases to depend entirely upon the data of Genesis. read more
(8) The sons of Ethan.—Nothing is known of this Ethanite Azariah. It seems plain that the writer wished to name only the historically famous members of the Zarhite branch of Judah—in 1 Chronicles 2:6, the four proverbial sages; in 1 Chronicles 2:7, Achar who brought woe upon Israel by taking of the devoted spoils of Jericho. read more
NAMES1 Chronicles 1:1-54; 1 Chronicles 2:1-55; 1 Chronicles 3:1-24; 1 Chronicles 4:1-43; 1 Chronicles 5:1-26; 1 Chronicles 6:1-81; 1 Chronicles 7:1-40; 1 Chronicles 8:1-40; 1 Chronicles 9:1-44THE first nine chapters of Chronicles form, with a few slight exceptions, a continuous list of names. It is the largest extant collection of Hebrew names. Hence these chapters may be used as a text for the exposition of any spiritual significance to be derived from Hebrew names either individually or... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 2:1-17
Here is, I. The family of Jacob. His twelve sons are here named, that illustrious number so often celebrated almost throughout the whole Bible, from the first to the last book of it. At every turn we meet with the twelve tribes that descended from these twelve patriarchs. The personal character of several of them was none of the best (the first four were much blemished), and yet the covenant was entailed on their seed; for it was of grace, free grace, that it was said, Jacob have I loved?not... read more